LUDLAM REVS UP SCOTS
GB coach Amor comes on board with mission to evolve England by playing ‘a style the world has never seen before’
ENGLAND have risked further humiliation by saying they “want to be brutal” against Scotland – failing to learn the lesson from the outburst that fired up France. Flanker Lewis Ludlam, left, has taken the lead from coach Eddie Jones by saying: “We are revved up. We want to be brutal. We don’t want to give them an inch to breathe.”
Jones said before their Six Nations opener against France
‘It’s going to be war – and we’re excited’
that they would bring “brutal physicality”. His words caused a backlash and France used them as motivation in their 24-17 win.
And ahead of their Calcutta Cup clash on Saturday, it appears England have once again written the opposition’s team-talk for them. A team so well beaten in their past two matches might have thought it advisable to put actions before words this weekend ahead of such a dangerous fixture, one they have failed to win home and away in their past two attempts.
Their confidence is rattled and Manu Tuilagi and Anthony Watson have joined Billy Vunipola on the sidelines, but instead Ludlam made it abundantly clear that England would not be tip-toeing into Edinburgh for
Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash. “We’re going to come out fighting,” said the Northampton star. “In all facets of the game we’re coming for them.The best teams don’t roll over and take a performance like that [in France].They come back fighting.”
Before England’s last visit to Scotland, Ben Te’o claimed Calcutta Cup history was “completely irrelevant” and the rich heritage of rugby’s oldest rivalry meant nothing to him.
The Scots taught him and England a lesson that day, which Ludlam says the current squad has taken on board. “It’s definitely not the view of the team now, that this is just another place to go,” said Ludlam, who has never been to Scotland.
“It’s a battle. It’s going to be a war and it’s something we’re excited about and will be ready for.We are determined to right a few wrongs.”
Jones will today name his England team with a second player lost to injury and the decision to play Tom Curry out of position called into question.Watson joinedTuilagi in being ruled out of contention for Saturday’s clash after aggravating the calf injury that kept him out of the France game. George Furbank is likely to remain at full-back, with Jonathan Joseph in line to replace Tuilagi in midfield.
Joe Launchbury returns to the squad in place of Charlie Ewels, suggesting George Kruis will start as a further change.
Sale boss Steve Diamond has questioned the merit of playing his star Curry away from flanker, saying: ‘Tom has a very good skills set but his best position is No6 or No7.”